Suryansh Shedge Reflects on IPL Auction Experience and His Journey with PBKS

The 21-year-old Mumbai youngster, Suryansh Shedge, is now a part of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Having a great domestic stint, this cricketer would be eager to prove his mettle at the IPL and make a mark for his new team. Shedge earned a spot in the PBKS by going through the electrifying IPL Mega Auction held for the 2024 season. After the auction, the right-hander was really sought after to showcase his game on the pitch.

He won fans and the selectors' attention first with an exciting knock of 36* off mere 15 deliveries against Mumbai to help them emerge as the trophy-winning team from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final. However, though batting was his forte, Shedge stands out for his adaptability and determination in overcoming setbacks. Playing for Mumbai this season, he is looking forward to playing under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, a familiar face that would make his transition into the IPL environment less frictious.

The first thing that got Shedge excited was his addition to PBKS, as this is a franchise known for nurturing fresh talent for such a long period of time. "Punjab Kings has always been a team that looks closely at the domestic circuit. They have always invested in new talent, and being a part of this franchise excites me a lot. Having Shreyas bhaiya as the captain will make it easier for me to adjust," said Shedge.

A significant moment during the auction occurred when he was watching the proceedings on his phone while traveling to his hotel. Shedge had hardly listened to his Mumbai mate Musheer Khan's name being read out in the auction and knew that the call would be coming very soon. The moment Musheer was picked by PBKS, Suryansh was elated to know that just a few seconds later, it was his name going out. "When my name flashed, I was going to call Musheer. Punjab Kings raised the paddle, and we all celebrated on the bus. He was one of the first people to call me when he heard the news, and now we will be playing for the same team," he said excitedly, recalling the moment.

He felt it special because his teammates in Mumbai appreciated him and congratulated him, and termed him as "Punjab da Munda." Firm setting his roots with his team, Mumbai, Suryansh is now looking forward to the success of PBKS and entertainment of fans from across the globe. He further adds, "Whatever the team requires me to do, I am prepared to give my all for the team. I do not have a set mentality and would be ready to play whatever the role the game demands."

Shedge's journey to this point has not been easy. Last year, he faced a serious setback in the form of a back injury that threatened to derail his career. He had been going great guns for Mumbai and was even in contention for a place in the senior team when the injury struck. "It was devastating to learn that my stress fracture had relapsed. The first two months were a blur, and I struggled to find motivation," he confessed. He thought at that time his cricketing career could be over. He felt, especially in an environment like Mumbai's cricket, that was so full of talent and the pressure is immense, he was all set to see his career down the drain.

But the motivation from his parents and friends made him stand back and continue fighting. Suryansh dedicated himself to strength-building sessions, letting his body heal and develop the strength to regain its top form. In fact, while he was in the recovery, he still honed up on his batting. He adopted some more attacking strokes to his game and it indeed yielded results when he made an impressive comeback as three hundreds in a series of games helped him revive well in the domestic circuit. Then he also represented the Mumbai U-23 side, with whom he scored an excellent knock of 168.

This was not lost to anyone, and he eventually got his call-up to the Mumbai senior team to play for them in the Ranji Trophy. Success in domestic cricket has now paved the way for his IPL debut with PBKS, and he looks forward to contributing to the team's victory of the much-desired IPL title. "I want to impact for Punjab Kings, and with coach Ricky Ponting, we can hope to win the trophy this year," he said.

Shedge is a great admirer of the Australian cricketing legend, Ricky Ponting. He looks up not only to his playing but also post-retirement contributions that show a lot for this cricketing community. Suryansh hopes to imbibe these qualities from Ponting as he embarks on his IPL journey with PBKS.

It would really prove a trial for Suryansh Shedge while trying to do his best as he tries to create some sort of identity in one of the most competitive leagues in the world of cricket. Reminding one about perseverance required to win at the highest levels of the game, overcoming the challenges and then grabbing the opportunity is his winning the day.